NFL game summary for 12/02/1979:
Chicago capitalized on a blocked punt and five interceptions to blank Tampa Bay and keep their playoff hopes alive. In the first quarter, Bruce Herron blocked a punt and linebacker Lee Kunz returned it 16 yards to set up Walter Payton's one-yard touchdown run. Gary Fencik's second-period interception preceded Mike Phipps' 13-yard touchdown pass to Dave Williams. The Bears were the last team to shut out the Buccaneers, 10-0 on December 4, 1977.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 152.1 (9) | 136.4 (26) | 288.5 (23) | 24 |
| DEFENSE | 132.8 (10) | 163.3 (10) | 296.1 (9) | 31 | |
 | OFFENSE | 152.1 (3) | 176.7 (15) | 328.8 (10) | 26 |
| DEFENSE | 117.8 (8) | 144.5 (1) | 262.2 (3) | 31 |
Line: Buccaneers by 3½
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears (8-6-0) | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-5-0) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
( 7- 0) CHI Walter Payton 1 yard rush (Bob Thomas kick)
(14- 0) CHI Dave Williams 13 yard pass from Mike Phipps (Bob Thomas kick)
CHI TB
First Downs: 10 13
Rushes-yards: 48-147 33-107
Yards/rush: 3.1 3.2
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 6-15-26-0 11-31-158-5
Sacked-yards: 1-9 3-27
Net pass yards: 17 131
Net yards/pass: 1.1 3.9
Total net yards: 164 238
Total plays: 64 (75% run) 67 (49% run)
Yards/play: 2.6 3.6
Fumbles-lost: 2-1 0-0
Turnovers: 1 5
Penalties-yards: 4-40 7-65
Attendance: 69,508
Passing:
CHI: Mike Phipps, 6 of 15 for 26 yards and 1 TD TB: Doug Williams, 5 of 19 for 60 yards (4 int); Mike Rae, 6 of 12 for 98 yards (1 int)
Rushing:
CHI: Walter Payton, 22 for 77 yards and 1 TD; Dave Williams, 16 for 40 yards; Willie McClendon, 8 for 24 yards; Lonnie Perrin, 1 for 4 yards; Mike Phipps, 1 for 2 yards TB: Ricky Bell, 24 for 80 yards; Johnny Davis, 6 for 23 yards; Doug Williams, 1 for 4 yards; Mike Rae, 1 for 2 yards; Jimmie Giles, 1 for -2 yards
Receiving:
CHI: Dave Williams, 6 for 26 yards and 1 TD TB: Isaac Hagins, 4 for 67 yards; Morris Owens, 2 for 27 yards; Jimmie Giles, 2 for 20 yards; Jim Obradovich, 1 for 19 yards; Ricky Bell, 1 for 16 yards; Johnny Davis, 1 for 9 yards
Kick returns:
CHI: Len Walterscheid, 1 for 23 yards TB: Isaac Hagins, 3 for 55 yards
Punt returns:
CHI: Len Walterscheid, 2 for 16 yards; Steve Schubert, 2 for 4 yards TB: Danny Reece, 7 for 38 yards
Interceptions:
CHI: Terry Schmidt, 2 for 16 yards; Gary Fencik, 2 for 14 yards; Allan Ellis, 1 for 21 yards
Punting:
CHI: Bob Parsons, 10 for 355 yards TB: Tom Blanchard, 6 for 231 yards
Field Goals:
CHI: Mike Phipps, 6 of 15 for 26 yards and 1 TD TB: Doug Williams, 5 of 19 for 60 yards (4 int); Mike Rae, 6 of 12 for 98 yards (1 int)
Rushing:
CHI: Walter Payton, 22 for 77 yards and 1 TD; Dave Williams, 16 for 40 yards; Willie McClendon, 8 for 24 yards; Lonnie Perrin, 1 for 4 yards; Mike Phipps, 1 for 2 yards TB: Ricky Bell, 24 for 80 yards; Johnny Davis, 6 for 23 yards; Doug Williams, 1 for 4 yards; Mike Rae, 1 for 2 yards; Jimmie Giles, 1 for -2 yards
Receiving:
CHI: Dave Williams, 6 for 26 yards and 1 TD TB: Isaac Hagins, 4 for 67 yards; Morris Owens, 2 for 27 yards; Jimmie Giles, 2 for 20 yards; Jim Obradovich, 1 for 19 yards; Ricky Bell, 1 for 16 yards; Johnny Davis, 1 for 9 yards
Kick returns:
CHI: Len Walterscheid, 1 for 23 yards TB: Isaac Hagins, 3 for 55 yards
Punt returns:
CHI: Len Walterscheid, 2 for 16 yards; Steve Schubert, 2 for 4 yards TB: Danny Reece, 7 for 38 yards
Interceptions:
CHI: Terry Schmidt, 2 for 16 yards; Gary Fencik, 2 for 14 yards; Allan Ellis, 1 for 21 yards
Punting:
CHI: Bob Parsons, 10 for 355 yards TB: Tom Blanchard, 6 for 231 yards
Field Goals: